What can I do with this degree?

ENGINEERING

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Bachelor's degree provides wide range of career opportunities in industry, business, and government.

Graduate degrees offer more opportunities for career advancement.

Bachelor's degree is good background for pursuing technical graduate degrees as well as professional degrees in Business Administration, Medicine or Law.

Related work experience obtained through co-op, internships, part-time or summer jobs, or regular employment is extremely beneficial.

Develop computer expertise within field.

Engineers need to think in scientific and mathematical terms, have ability to study data, sort out important facts, solve problems, and be logical thinkers. Creativity is useful.
Other helpful traits include intellectual curiosity, technical aptitude, perseverance, ability to communicate and work well with others, a commitment to teamwork, and a basic understanding of the economic and environmental context in which engineering is practiced.

Develop excellent verbal and written communications skills including presentation and technical report writing.

All states and the District of Columbia require registration of engineers whose work may affect the life, health, or safety of the public.

Professional or technical societies confer certification in some areas.

Join related professional organizations.

Most fields offer overseas opportunities with businesses or government agencies.

Because of rapid changes in most engineering fields, both continued education and keeping abreast of new developments are very important.

Most states require an EIT (Engineer-In-Training) test before taking a state examination to become a Professional Engineer (PE).

Search the Internet for additional information about individual disciplines.

AREAS
ANY ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE
Production
Sales and Marketing
Management
Consulting
Research and Development
Teaching
Law

EMPLOYERS
Industry
Business
Federal, state, and local government
Colleges and universities

STRATEGIES
Obtain related experience through co-op or internships for business/industry-related career. MBA degree provides best opportunities in technical management. Obtain Ph.D. for optimal teaching and research careers. Develop strong verbal and written communication skills. Learn federal, state, and local government job application procedures.

AREAS
AEROSPACE
Propulsion
Fluid Mechanics
Thermodynamics
Structures
Celestial Mechanics
Acoustics
Guidance and Control

EMPLOYERS
Aircraft, guided missile, and space vehicle industries
Communications equipment manufacturers
Commercial airlines
Federal government departments: Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Business and engineering firms

STRATEGIES

Discipline uses cutting edge technology to deal with challenges of aeronautics, space, mass transportation, environmental pollution, and medical science.

Keep abreast of status of federal funding for defense and space programs.
Seek co-op opportunities. Develop effective verbal and written communication skills. Learn to work well within a team.

AREAS
BIOMEDICAL
Bioengineering: Design, Development, Manufacturing
Medical Engineering: Instrumentation, Materials, Diagnostic/Therapeutic Devices, Artificial Organs, Medical Equipment
Rehabilitation Engineering
Bio-environmental Engineering

EMPLOYERS
Manufacturers of medical and surgical devices
Hospitals and healthcare facilities
Federal government: Regulatory agencies, Veteran's Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Industry
Research facilities of educational and medical institutions

STRATEGIES
Discipline combines engineering and human anatomy to develop and maintain medical and healthcare systems and equipment. Develop strong team work skills. Many positions require a graduate or professional degree. Serves as a good background for medical school.

AREAS
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Metallurgy
Ceramics
Plastics/Polymers
Composites
Research
Extractive
Process
Applications
Management
Sales
Service
Consulting

EMPLOYERS
Materials producing companies
Manufacturing companies including automobiles, appliances, electronics, aerospace equipment, machinery, medicine
Service companies including airlines, railroads, and utilities
Consulting firms
Government agencies: Department of Defense, National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA)
Research institutes
Publishers

STRATEGIES
Studies properties of various types of materials and how they are made and behave under different conditions. Many positions require a graduate degree.
Some areas benefited by additional study in business administration, medicine, management and/or law. Develop good communication skills. Gain laboratory and research experience as an undergraduate.

AREAS
MECHANICAL
Mechanical Power Generation: Internal Combustion Engines, Jet Engines, Steam Power Plants, Rockets, Energy Utilization and Conservation
Thermal/Fluids: Thermodynamics, Environmental Control, Refrigeration, Instrumentation and Control
Machine Sciences: Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Production, Robotics, Operation and Maintenance

EMPLOYERS
Transportation: Automotive industry, aerospace industry, military laboratories
Utilities: Steam driven electric power stations
Equipment Design: Plants, Nuclear power stations
Electronics industry
Petro-Chemical: Drilling & production, plant operations
Manufacturing: Consumer products, chemical products, farm equipment, industrial equipment, paper and wood products, textile equipment
Consulting engineering firms

STRATEGIES
Takes broad outlook on solving complex problems. Involves design, development and production. Keeps pace with technology. Acts as an interface between society and technology. Obtain related experience through internships or co-op. Take additional courses in area(s) of interest. Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills.

AREAS
Design
Planning
Operations
Administration
Regulations

EMPLOYERS
Private industry and businesses involved with air pollution control, industrial hygiene, radiation protection, hazardous waste management, toxic materials control, water supply, storm water and wastewater management, solid waste disposal, public health, and land management
Private engineering consulting firms
Construction firms
Research firms
Testing laboratories
International organizations

STRATEGIES
Discipline plays vital role in reducing toxicity and pollution of water, ground and air for a better quality of life for all living things. Consider a master's degree for advancement. Foreign language ability beneficial for international work.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff at Career Services of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA /ADEA Employer

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